cats used to grow big in greece, did they?

Some years ago a Greek vase that the University Museum had lent to Bryn Mawr
College aroused my curiosity about cheetahs in antiquity, starting me on a long
trail of Classical cats.

Such is the opening sentence of Ann Ashmead's article "GREEK CATS: Exotic pets kept by rich youths in fifth century B.C. Athens, as portrayed on Greek vases" (Expedition Magazine Vol 2, No. 3, Spring 1978). Long story short, I may have brought you a bit of a project today if you feel like downloading the PDF and scanning the scholarly article. The text mostly says in essence "Rich fashionable young Greek men could acquire a cheetah or a leopard if they wanted to, apparently." If you have ever wished you could have a mighty cool Acinonyx jubatus -- that's cheetah to you and me -- then you might well enjoy, not least for the great photos taken from ceramics of the time. (I recommend Illustration 8, a kylix by the Cat and Dog Painter, and 6, a cheetah whose spots are made in loopy whorls.)

Give the article a try.

I went looking for ducklings this past weekend, but did not find any. However, I have this one (thanks Wikimedia Commons) from the Southern Song Dynasty of China (1127–1279 AD). The Southern Song painters are said to have belonged to a tradition that wanted to foster societal change from the ground up, and thereby focusing on close, intimate subjects. I applaud a time and culture that believed the visual arts were a way to do this for everyone. Don't you just want to run out and tidy up your yard so this little guy could have a calm, clean place to grow up?

It dives in shallows for beakfuls of moss,

Heads to sandy isles to preen its feathers.

Ready to fly off all by itself,

It finds its reflection and lingers.

- "On a Lone Duck," Xiao Gang (6th century AD)

the ibmc feeds their feral kitties

I stumbled across this sideways, after surfing through a 2003 article on a woman in Berkeley who tamed feral cats through Buddhist chants. Upon trying to find out more about that, I found a low-key, charming vid in which the Reverend Kusala of the International Buddhist Meditation Center feeds his gang of slowly tamed fellow beings. No chants, just kibble, a little chat, and a good feeling to start your workweek.

more of a cat feeling, really

"I have often, as an exercise and as a sustenance, painted before an object down to the smallest accidents of its visual appearance; but the day left me sad and with an unsatiated thirst. The next day I let the other source run, that of imagination, through the recollection of the forms and I was then reassured and appeased."

This is a quote from the Symbolist painter Odilon Redon (French, 1840-1916). He's best known for his mysterious humanoid creatures rendered in soft, sweet pastel colors. Everyone, I think, has seen The Cylops, in which the terrible beast of legend becomes a tender swain mooning over a sleeping girl. I've always had a soft spot for Redon.

And now I've found another reason to love him. He painted not only a cat, but the feeling and memory of having one, in Bazon The Artist's Cat (1905). In this piece the ginger cat slumbers smiling in a ginger world, in what looks to be a garden setting. Anyone who has felt the peace radiating from their happy cat will know exactly how that can fill their perceptions.

the sophisticat contingent

So you go to this new lolcat site, or you think it's one, and you realize, "It's not got very many. And they are all speaking perfect English. And it's kind of British."

What it IS is kind of a backlash, courtesy of Weebl and Bob's latest Catface, in which he takes on icanhascheezburger.com and some of our favorites. "Invisible sandwich? Why not the real sandwich?" I wish the Weebl gang would continue it.

"an actual pig, oinky-oink"

As in, "I hear that you're thinking about nominating a pig for President, an actual pig, oinky-oink, you know, Pigasus, the Immortal."

That's a quote from testimony in the Chicago Seven case from Ed Sanders. He's talking about events leading up to the 1968 Presidential election, and the rumors were correct: the Yippie candidate was a mammal of the hog variety named Pigasus, the Immortal.

Introduced as the Youth International Party's choice at the Democratic Convention in Chicago that August, Pigasus' campaign pledge stated: "They nominate a president and he eats the people. We nominate a president and the people eat him." Pigasus was going up against Nixon and Hubert H. Humphrey, so you have to admit that on the face of it he had an outside shot. Or at least he would have, if he hadn't gotten arrested along with Phil Ochs, Jerry Rubin and other the morning of August 23rd. (Yes, that's right: the pig got arrested.) Everyone got sprung but Pigasus, who was never seen again.

I'd have to say this is one of the most vivid uses of political metaphor I've ever run across. For more story and backstory, plus a photo of the pig getting nabbed by no less than four policemen, trot yourself over to this Porkopolis page.

"yer honor." "woof."

Hello everybody! I was up against a couple of freelance contracts with tight deadlines, and surely missed being here.

I wasn't in Rabbit Hash Kentucky either, though it would be diverting. This tiny town in Boone County has developed the wise habit of electing dogs as mayors. Goofy was the first one in 1998. The second was Junior Cochran, who has departed for the doggie beyond as of May 2008 - so they're on their third. An open-minded society, the citizens of Rabbit Hash have elected a woman this time, a Border Collie named Lucy Lou. The exciting rundown of this political process here, in which 215% registered and unregistered voters exercised their rights. (Her opponents included an opossum.)

art is consolation

My gracious. What a week.




I need to feast my eyes on my favorite things: art and pets, rolled up together like a peanut butter cup (Mm, right?).

How about this lovely "Tom Cat" by the Dutch artist Frans Koppelaar (1943 - )? Koppelaar currently prides himself on not belonging to any art movement, and painting with a simple, straightforward realism. Now I am fond of many styles and theories of art, so I think there's lots of different ideas to enjoy. Today this was the one I found. Ah, I can almost feel that fur.

Koppelaar's website is here (but he doesn't do many pets).

bunny tiles from a garden

You know, I could've posted this for Easter. These are a couple of tiles from a tile wall at the Georgetown (Seattle WA) P-Patch, one of many community gardens scattered through the city. Tara and John (Robin&Finchy's mom and dad) got on the waiting list and were successful this year, so I showed up to salivate over the thought of fresh lettuce. Then I noticed the wall.

There's lots of handmade tiles on the wall, but because it was getting close to Easter I saw these and was enchanted. They're Peter-Rabbity, aren't they? All plump and compact like Beatrix Potter bunnies. I guess all the tiles were installed recently, in June 2008, if this announcement is right.

happy late easter

Your friendly Curator has been racing along on a deadline or two, but I sure missed the Museum and all its lovely visitors. Though it's late in the day, I want to wish you all a very happy Easter, and offer you an elegant rabbit. The catch? It's an Islamic ceramic. Beauty is where you find it, and today, I found it at the Louvre.

fun with crittery money

Isn't this a nice squirrel? This is a Belarus half-ruble note. (Thanks, WikiCommons. If you want to see the rest of the Belarus notes as well as some spiffy Nepalese ones, go here.)

I wish I knew why the US doesn't want to put any beautiful animals on our hard-earned cash. If I do find out I'll be sure to post that. In the meantime, I was all set to bring you more examples of fine financial animal art, but I got totally hijacked by a photoshop contest on FreakingNews.com in which folded banknotes get merged with critters to make . . . hilarity.

elephant and dog

Speaking of elephants, as I was yesterday, I received an email from family friend Art T about the special friendship found at a Tennessee elephant sanctuary. At The Elephant Sanctuary, African and Asian elephants find a safe place to be in a world that threatens them with extinction. Usually each one finds a best elefriend and pairs up.

But then there's Tarra. Tarra's best friend is Bella, a cream-colored dog. The story of their friendship has been on TV - did you see it? If you did, here's some nice footage of them just being together.

Amazing? Yes. Unheard of? Well, the Buddhist Jataka Tales of centuries ago tell a story of a royal elephant who pined for a humble dog friend till they were united.

Once upon a time a Dog used to go into the stable where the king’s Elephant
lived. At first the Dog went there to get the food that was left after the Elephant had finished eating. Day after day the Dog went to the stable, waiting around for bits to eat. But by and by the Elephant and the Dog came to be great friends. Then the Elephant began to share his food with the Dog, and they ate together. When the Elephant slept, his friend the Dog slept beside him. When the Elephant felt like playing, he would catch the Dog in his trunk and swing him to and fro. Neither the Dog nor the Elephant was quite happy unless the other was nearby.

Read the rest of "The Elephant and the Dog," here.

my own exotic miniature

Very recently I saw Garden and Cosmos at Seattle Asian Art Museum. This show is a rich treasurehouse of narrative miniatures depicting life in some royal Indian courts, with a bit of religious imagery as well. The pure, glowing colors alone make for a hypnotic experience, but the tiny details! Amazing. (You have the choice of picking up a magnifying glass at the gallery's entry in order to see better.)



If you have the chance to see Garden and Cosmos, I urge you to go. Now I wanted to find some of the excellent animal details for you - for example, the wise and funny look in the tame elephants' eyes - but the best I can do is direct you to the Flash slideshow. Try it.



I was so disappointed not to cherry-pick some delights for you that I stuck a bindi (bought in the gift shop) on SallyCat and made her my own Indian masterpiece.

craft your own ceiling cat

You know, Ceiling Cat. The cat that started out as a kitty peeking from the ceiling and moved on to become the LOLspeak for The Benevolent Powers That Be. (Just Google "ceiling cat" if you don't believe me, but remember it's not my fault he seems to be so observant.)

You need never forget that Ceiling Cat is watching you - for I've found the source of the full-color 3D paper model of CC, at what I think is The Most Delightful Art Blog I Never Saw Before.

I give you Ceiling Cat in paper at Tubbypaws. Doesn't it crack you up when catchphrases become artforms? Does me - but then, I'm an art historian and it would. Paper doesn't make you laugh? Oh come on, how 'bout plush?

Check the sweet Japonisme excellence you get when you search Tubbypaws for "cat." And Happy Friday to you.

what the dormouse said

Apparently at some point the dormouse said, "Hey, Grace Slick! Why don't you take up painting and do a lot of Alice in Wonderland characters, including me?" Yes, the same Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane/Starship (select latter according to your level of music history puritanism or plain old chronological age). She retired from singing in 1989 and immediately took up painting.

The SPS Limelight Agency specializes in the artwork created by - or of - celebrities, carrying Mickey Hart, Ringo Starr, and Ronnie Wood, among others.

Grace's work is structured with areas of flat bright color, and is firmly in the cute and whimsical category. Here's some I find really appealing: Don Blanco is humorous and becomes a dapper part of his Southwestern landscape; Carrots engages you in a bit of a standoff with the veggie-grabbing bunny; Self Esteem has an elegance in its execution that doesn't preclude a smile.

You can see all her Wonderland works here.